Olivia Neal’s Post

Among critical scenarious for the Platforms Future has been how to deal with online toxicity. Scholarly response by Mehmet Ali Üzelgün et al. explores contents, discussions and scenarios for technological disruption, societal fragmentation, and digital Enlightenment (Special Issue, 2024): https://lnkd.in/dSGfG29v

In the face of large tech companies’ monopolization of “the digital,” public authorities have begun to take action to regain control. In this article, Alexander Paulsson and Mats Fred explore how government actors pursue such "digital sovereignty" via in-house software development and data ownership, but also by “re-configuring the organization in relation to digital artifacts” Check out the #OpenAccess article here: https://lnkd.in/eDzS84Pq Sage Journals and Call for Papers, Lund University School of Economics and Management, #DigitalSovereignty

This 8th of March will be full of actions that resist the central, major, mundane and uniforming narrative of contemporary computation. Actions that pay attention to ways that nation states, tech companies, fossil fuel companies and the financial industry collaborate to erase entire populations including their cultures. // Micro actions that resist the depletion of creative possibilities for life that Big Tech reduces. // Large scale actions that radically foreground vernacular, situated, specific techno-diversities fundamental for resistance and survival. // Meso moments that ask us to reflect on our own accountability. // Collective actions that refuse infra-solutionism in response to all difficulties: ecological, social, economical, or knowledge. // Local actions that call out infrastructural violence at different scales at the same time. // Transnational actions that help us remember: we are not alone. In solidarity with ongoing efforts for resistance, as well as the need for making struggle visible, we have to figure out how we can together divest from daily technological habits that continue to thicken our complicity in these violent acts. From Google Drive to Instagram, if there are no outsides to these companies then we need to find other ways to resist them.

Growth of Internet Access in Developing Countries (00:05-01:36): The documentary opens in a densely packed neighborhood in Nairobi, showcasing how local residents and new technologies are driving internet access in underdeveloped regions. In five years, another billion people, particularly from Africa, the Middle East, and Asia, will be connected to the internet, transforming access to information and opportunities. Technological Innovations for Internet Expansion (03:01-07:17): The episode introduces Google's innovative solution to expanding internet access through laser-beamed data transmission between cell towers, bypassing the need for costly physical fiber infrastructure. This new technology allows for high-speed connections over long distances, aiming to connect remote areas affordably. Local Entrepreneurship and Economic Impact (08:33-10:31): Local entrepreneurs, such as Elias Mugo, are utilizing Google's new internet technology to create new income streams by reselling internet access to their neighbors. This creates business opportunities and expands access to education and information for people in previously unconnected regions. Challenges in Rural Connectivity and Digital Education (12:25-14:29): Despite the internet's growth in urban areas, rural regions remain largely disconnected. Local initiatives, such as the Center for Women's Empowerment in Technology, are working to provide digital education and basic skills to ensure that youth and girls, in particular, can benefit from new online opportunities. Exploitation and the Future of Local Tech Development (16:00-22:33): The episode addresses the darker side of the internet's expansion, such as the exploitation of content moderators in developing countries. However, it also highlights the potential for local tech startups like Adenan Labs, which aim to build African wealth through innovative solutions, positioning Africa as a key player in the global tech industry. https://lnkd.in/eyKHzVjX

I must always find the proper (quiet) time to read Robin Berjon's pieces. Let's face it: they're long, somewhat complex, and thoughtful (despite he may claim they are half-cooked) 😉 As usual, the message resonates with me. I don't think there's a way around re-decentralisation, and I love his optimism. I don't think there's a way around Digital Public Infrastructure, and the time is now. I don't think there's a way around regulation, but we must do better. Interestingly, a quote from someone else in there (Meredith Whittaker) strongly resonated with me. This is surely because of my current work on EU digital government matters (interoperability): "Europe doesn’t want to be so dependent on US giants, but often the aspiration takes the form of 'we want what they have but ours' – that’s a terrible idea." I would like to ground the discussion on a specific case. Several acts have been approved and entered into force in the EU over the last several years. Many have heard of the Data Act and, most recently, the AI Act, but the Interoperable Europe Act (maybe less fancily named but equally important) also entered into force just two months ago. This has effects on infrastructure, cross-border data exchange, and interoperability. I'm hearing policy discussions about the nitty-gritty details that policymakers interpret differently, such as whether it is required to do XYZ depending on how you read it, etc. Discussions are less so at the technical level, where people make much less of an issue rowing together and defining the goalposts. (Still, a word of caution: as Robin said, technical stuff (e.g. standards) is also political.) In any case, compliance, in and of itself, is not the end goal but a means to an end. This is about people-centric government *in practice*, not *on paper*. It's about giving people the agency to exercise their rights. About re-gaining people's trust. Walk the talk! This may mean taking risks and facing failure (something governments are generally averse to). Some hope comes in the form of a few governments saying (at the Interoperable Europe conference I'm attending (#SEMIC2024)) that either we (as in government) do it or someone else will do it for us. Massive amounts of money in the EU are being put into regulation, infrastructure, interoperability, data sovereignty, and re-use. Let's ensure it serves people and lays down a solid foundation for people once and for all and that past mistakes are not repeated, this time at a bigger scale.

"Internet isn't about connecting machines, it's about connecting people - Hannah Fry." #mustwatch I recently watched a YouTube short documentary highlighting the profound impact of the internet in developing nations like Kenya. In Nairobi’s bustling neighborhood of Pipeline, where access to basic necessities is limited, something remarkable is happening: people are getting online. Through innovative technologies and local entrepreneurship, the internet is opening doors to education, business, and community connection. This video is a powerful reminder that the internet is transforming lives far beyond Silicon Valley. From Google's stratospheric internet-beaming solutions to local entrepreneurs like Elias Mugo, who turned a simple internet connection into a thriving business, the digital revolution is uplifting communities and empowering individuals. It’s incredible to witness how technology can be a catalyst for change, bridging gaps in access and opportunity. Kenya’s story inspires us all. It proves that with the right tools and access, even the most underserved communities can become global changemakers, contributing to a more connected and prosperous world.

Tech is the way forward! Many lessons and insights to take away from this article. Give it a read to learn more about how tech can help improve government systems. https://lnkd.in/ePueJhSK

Australia must adopt a more hardline approach to regulating Big Tech if it is to maximise the full economic benefit of technology, according to shadow minister for government services and the digital economy Paul Fletcher. #BigTech #Antitrust #Compeition #AusTech

OPEN SOURCE, OPEN DATA, OPEN STANDARDS TO BENEFIT THE WHOLE SOCIETY - A MAJOR MILESTONE 📢 United Nations Member States have agreed by 2030 to: "Develop, disseminate and maintain, through multi-stakeholder cooperation, safe and secure open-source software, open data, open artificial intelligence models and open standards that benefit society as a whole (SDGs 8, 9 and 10)." You can find more here: https://lnkd.in/e9eV39zu Martel Innovate Digital for Planet NGI Commons NGI - The Next Generation Internet EUCloudEdgeIoT EU Digital & Tech 6G4Society #opensource #opendata #openstandards

Professor Anu Bradford, the esteemed author of the renowned book "The Brussels Effect," has penned an insightful article that comes highly recommended. The analysis posits that Europe's underdeveloped tech industry is not solely due to a heavy regulatory burden. Instead, it highlights four distinct factors contributing to this situation: 🚫Single Market is just a theory. Any company that wants to deploy its products or services within the EU has to deal with each Member-State national legal frameworks, different cultures, different languages... The USA is a unified landmass, with a mostly homogenous culture and the same language. 🚫 The European funding and venture capital market significantly lags behind that of the United States, where there is a greater tolerance for risk. Additionally, the disparity in liquidity available for investment between the EU and the US is striking. 🚫 Legal frameworks, such as bankruptcy laws, and cultural attitudes towards risk-taking and entrepreneurship present barriers in Europe. There is a pervasive stigma associated with being part of a failed enterprise, which contrasts with the American perspective that views failure as an opportunity for learning and growth. 🚫 EU’s inability to attract the world’s best innovative talent through a proactive and coherent migration policy.